Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the idea.


Door raha, tumse buhat
Phir bhi kabhi door na tha
Gar faaslay, thay darmayaan
Faaslon se kab thin dooriyan


Standing on the white line drawn with chalk, feet wide apart, .303 held firmly against her body, Naina breathed deeply. This was her last shot and she needed a perfect score to get even with Rajveer. She had almost forgotten how flawless he was with rifles.

Going first, he had taken the opportunity to show off his shooting skills and done that thing with the target again, taking out the center entirely with perfect shots.

She tried to remember her goal. Why was it so important to win anyway? Suddenly the rifle in her grip trembled imperceptibly. She didn't want to win? Why? Her thoughts were confusing her deeply, making her question everything.

She didn't want to win from him, the realization hit her hard.

A hand moved across her shoulder and the arch of her back. "You stance is almost perfect."

Naina kept her breathing even. "Almost?" She questioned without moving an inch but relaxing her hold on the weapon somewhat, having made up her mind about what she was going to do already.

She could feel his presence right behind her, his body heat oddly comforting. She took the bulls-eye in focus and and just as her finger pressed against the trigger, several things happened simultaneously.

A hand slipped along her stomach and pressed firmly.

A gasp left her mouth as he murmured in her ear, "Tighten these muscles."

The bullet leaving her rifle missed the center and hit the next innermost ring on the target.

Disbelief shot through her for a brief second and she lowered the rifle before staring down at the hand holding her firmly. Did she actually miss? She could hear the slightest of amusement in his voice when he said, "That was close."

She turned around to face him, without moving back at all. Their eyes met for long moments, his arm around her waist, before she whispered, "I lost." A look of recognition followed by confusion came over his face and his gaze heated subtly.

Naina suddenly realized that they were practically breathing the same air with how close they were standing. When had her hands gotten up on his chest? She looked up again and her eyes landed on his lips and refused to move any further.


Her eyes were weaving the strangest of magic on his senses as they traveled up and down his frame as if memorizing it all over again. He didn't miss how they they stopped on his mouth and stayed there. He battled the urge to kiss her senseless again as his inner self was urging him to.

He liked this girl. A little too much perhaps. And he was not going to follow through this time. She would be the one taking the next step, he had decided. The bet was just a way for him to nudge her forward.

"So, you have to do what I say now." He tried to appear cheerful but his voice still came out husky. She lifted her eyes to his, with some effort apparently. Realizing their proximity, she snatched back her hands from him and took a step back, a small step, he noticed, and shrugged in question.

"What do you want?"

She liked to get straight to point, his observation was further proof that there was no duplicity in her.

He cleared his throat before teasing her, "Well, keeping the bet aside for a moment, doesn't the winner get a medal? You can decide the prize, of course."

The most stunning smile crept up her face and he forgot to breathe for a second. She was gorgeous.

"Somebody used to say that the effort put into completing a mission is a reward in itself," She let out a low chuckle before shaking her head. "However, that person was sometimes misguided, being a human after all."

Her words sparked something in his brain. A soldier. No, a Cadet. Standing in front of him and asking for a reward. Asking for a way to win her heart. Was it another piece of the puzzle? A memory? He shook off the thoughts to concentrate on Naina.

Having no idea about where she was going with this but feeling the urge to save face, he said, "I think I'm starting to understand you, Captain. You are excellent at evasion."

What happened next, he'd never have seen it coming.

She moved forward, closing the distance she herself had put between them and then some. Her lips pressed against his cheek for moments he wouldn't forget easily. His breath hitched and before he could react in any way, she shifted her face up towards his ear and whispered, "Maybe you don't know me at all, Major."

She had effectively reduced him to speechlessness with one smooth move.

She pulled away and turned to leave. "You know where to find me when you finally come up with whatever it is that you want." Her parting words washed over him as she lifted two fingers to her forehead in goodbye.

Sliding his hands in his pockets, he didn't bother hiding his smile and turned towards the setting sun, letting the last of the warmth seep into his bones and settle his thundering pulse. She was quite sharp, he had to admit. But he was also going to live up to his name and surprise her with his next move.


Naina could feel her cheeks practically burning. Flirting with the love of your life wasn't as cool and breezy as was depicted in the novels and movies that Pooja used to make her read and watch sometimes. She pressed her hands against her cheeks hoping to cool them down.

Hadn't she decided that she was going to keep a distance from him just a couple of days ago in order to ensure that his health remained fine and she didn't basically… break his brain?

Well, technically speaking, it wasn't like she was going to reveal their past to him, she'd just… stop running away from him and let things take their natural course. She wasn't an idiot. She knew how he looked at her and it wasn't the same as how he looked at other faculty members.

Or was it? Just when she was considering talking to someone about this, she heard her name called out.

"Naina, you are going the wrong way."

She looked around to see Dr. Shalini beaming at her cheerfully and an automatic smile was her reply. Her energy was infectious and it was hard not to be happy and optimistic around the doctor.

"Where am I supposed to be going, ma'am?"

Dr. Shalini hooked an arm around her left one and turned her towards the assembly area. "Didn't someone tell you? Major Abhimanyu has called everyone, the cadets and the faculty, to make some announcements."

A few cadets passed by them and uttered greetings to them as they took another turn on their way.

"Dr. Shalini… " Naina hesitated when she looked at her expectantly. "Can I ask you something?"

"Hmm. Sure. How can I help?"

She blurted out the words before she lost the courage to do so. "Do you think Rajveer Sir likes me?"

Dr. Shalini stopped in the middle of the corridor and stared at her. This sent her reeling into a panic mode and all the jumbled up emotions flew out of her.

"I didn't mean it like that. I was talking about this Rajveer. Not the old one… I mean I knew how he felt. Not that we ever said anything. Or did anything. He didn't do anything wrong. We were kind of waiting. I mean… not like that. I was a cadet after all. It wasn't anything serious… No what am I saying. It was serious. It was the most real thing in my life. It is, not was—"

"Naina, Naina! Stop! Breathe. It's okay."

She felt hands coming to rest on her shoulders and her own flew up to cover her mouth. Her eyes went to the floor and didn't look up, afraid to see some sort of condemnation in response.

"Look at me, Naina."

She heard the sharpness in the voice commanding her and tears pricked behind her eyes as she looked up. Where she was expecting to see disapproval, all she saw was understanding.

Dr. Shalini rubbed her hands on her shoulders soothingly. "You know I was rooting for our Major's happiness right from the start. I'll admit that I was wrong when I tried to push him towards Ritu Mishra but I was also probably the first person to see how the dynamics between the two of you changed and went beyond that of a simple student and mentor."

Naina bit back her tears, trying not to make a fool of herself any more than she'd already done. Dr. Shalini continued.

"I don't know if you realized it back then but I tried to tell you and him to go for it. But you both thought that you might be disrespecting your brother's memory by not focusing on getting justice for him. I think that time and that place was just not right for any relationship. But I want you to listen to me carefully now." She placed a hand under her chin and urged Naina to follow her.

"In your own words… He liked you. He likes you. And he will always like you." She punctuated her words with pauses to emphasize and ensure that her words hit home.

"At least that's what I believe and I am rarely wrong about these things. So I would tell you again. Go for it, darling." Dr. Shalini shook her head as she practically saw wheels turning in Naina's brain. Her friends always needed a strong push to get on the right path. This time, she'd make sure that they reached their destination.

A sense of relief came over Naina and she felt a lightness on the inside. She smiled tentatively at her companion. It was a good idea to talk to her friend.


Everyone was already gathered in the assembly area when Naina and Dr. Shalini got there, right on time. Naina tried not to look around for him but her eyes found Rajveer instinctively, leaning against a pillar, talking to Lolita ma'am. Her attention was diverted when Suri Ji called for attention and announced that Principal Major Abhimanyu would be talking to everyone about some important upcoming events.

Abhimanyu thanked him before taking his place behind the podium and cleared his throat before starting.

"I hope everyone is doing good and the first year cadets are settling in well. It's been a few weeks that the academic year has started so as per tradition, a freshers ball is going to be arranged for you on the coming Saturday."

The cadets cheered and looked at each other in excitement.

"Settle down. That's not all. Your exams are going to be starting soon after that. The written tests will start from Tuesday and continue till the end of next week. Afterward, your practical exams will be conducted. The date sheet is being put up on the noticeboard as we speak." Naina could see the enthusiasm leave the faces and worry and tension take over.

"We understand that this is the first time you are going to be tested like this, therefore, we have arranged for some esteemed officers to come and guide you and make sure that you are well prepared for the drills. These officers will be joining KMA on temporary basis and you will be able to meet them unofficially on the freshers ball." The cadets looked slightly relieved by that news.

Naina looked at Abhimanyu in admiration. He clearly understood the needs of the cadets and was an excellent Principal altogether.

"So that's all for now. Enjoy your evening, everyone. Dismissed!" He stepped back and left.

Naina was still looking at his parting figure when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Without even looking in that direction, she knew who it was.

With a hand on her shoulder, Rajveer bent down to whisper in her ear, "After lights out. Cafeteria."

He was leaving before she could ask him anything.

Cafeteria after lights out? What was he up to?


A/N: A longer chapter is here to make up for the late update. This is the first time I am writing such a long fanfiction so I want to know if I am the only one who gets inspiration to write at the strangest of times like 3 in the morning or something similar.

Oh and you might notice a shift in the personalities of the main characters. I was trying to make it gradual and not all that sudden. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Happy reading!